Introduction:

One of the most fundamental changes that modern media has brought to our society is the ability for information, whether factual or opinion to be more widespread than ever before. In this unit, we will look at both OpEd pieces and review sites, and we will reflect on the significance of allowing anyone, and everyone, to have an opinion expressed to the world.

Objectives:

  • Understand the function and form of reviews and OpEd Pieces by...
    • Understanding the difference between fact and opinion. (Lesson 1)
    • Identifying the primary elements of reviews and OpEd pieces (Lesson 2 and Lesson 4)
    • Identifying different styles amongst reviews and OpEd pieces (Lesson 5)
    • Developing reviews and OpEd pieces that demonstrate correct form and function. (Lesson 3, Lesson 9, and Lesson 10)

  • Evaluate Author Credibility in Reviews and OpEd pieces by...
    • Identifying the elements of credibility (Lesson 6)
    • Comparing professional and personal reviews (Lesson 7)
    • Analyzing newsworthiness, entertainment value, and style in OpEd Pieces (Lesson 5)
    • Evaluating author credibility based on the above components (Lesson 8)
    • Developing reviews and OpEd pieces that demonstrate author credibility (Lesson 3, Lesson 9, and Lesson 10)

Lessons:


  1. Fact vs Opinion (DUE WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 4TH)
  2. Components of a Review (DUE THURSDAY, JANUARY 5TH)
  3. Create a Review (DUE FRIDAY, JANUARY 13TH)
  4. Components of an OpEd Piece (DUE WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11TH)
  5. Elements of Credibility
  6. Professional vs Personal Reviews (DUE WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18TH)
  7. Evaluating Author Credibility
  8. Developing Your Op Ed
  9. Reviewing the OpEd



  • The peculiar evil of silencing the expression of an opinion is, that it is robbing the human race; posterity as well as the existing generation; those who dissent from the opinion, still more than those who hold it. If the opinion is right, they are deprived of the opportunity of exchanging error for truth: if wrong, they lose, what is almost as great a benefit, the clearer perception and livelier impression of truth, produced by its collision with error. ~John Stuart Mill,On Liberty, 1859